Hose supporting clasp



inil 25, '1950 AGRuss 2,505,181

' Hose: -"sUPPoRTING CLASP Filed\Feb. 5, 1945 1N V EN TOR.

Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED STATES @WENT OFFICE 'y y. i 2,505,181

` H OSE SUPPORTING VCLASP A George A. Gruss, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application February 5, 1545, Serial No. 576,225

11 claims. l

This invention relates to grips and more particularly to garter-' grips used "for supporting stockings.

The present button type'of garter grip is objectionable because the-button protrudes above the stocking and may be easilydetected when a garment iits snugly over the button. It is further objectionablebecau'se itgrips the stocking by a narrow portion which causesruns in the stocking. A further objectic'n1 is that it'requires both hands of the user to attachor detach vthe grip from the stocking. l f

The object lof my 'invention 'is to' provide a garter grip which `will notA protrude nor show through a skirt, which will grip a wide portion of the stocking and thereby prevent runs, which maybe readily attached to 'and detached from the stocking with one hand."V` v 7 These yobjects and' other'fadvantagfeous Vends will be clearly set' forth by the accompanying Vdrawing and the following descriptiono'f same in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view 'of a garter grip made in accordance with my invention, showing it atl-A tached to a portion of a stockigg" Figure 2 a side view of Figure LviewedV from the ,direction of the 'arrows vori-lirie'ZM-j2, showing the stocking in section,

Figure 3 is a sectional viewftaken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, f

Figure 4 a view similar 5to Figure '3 showing the grip in open position,

Figure 5 a sectional view takenon line 5-'5of Figure l,

Figure 6 an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the resilientpivotal means shown inFigure 3, illustrating the action of the grip, and

Figure 7 a perspective view'of: a spring used in the resilient pivotal'means.'

Referring to the drawings, the grip comprises a frame I, a clamping member 2, an enclosure 3 swingably connected to the frame and clamping member and a pair of springsl positioned back thefentire edge-ofthe supporti-aside Vbars Bextend upward from support Sand terminate in V-shaped bends 9. Pivots IU project inward from the upper legs of each'bend 9 `and are'disposed within enclosure 3' and surrounded by its end wallR II, side Walls I2 and one end I3 of springs Mas shown in Figures 4 and 6.

A second pair of pivots I4 project inwardl f from bent iingers I5 at theA upper parts of clamping member'Z. These pivots are coniined within: enclosure 3 and surrounded by its end wall I6, side walls I2 and the -other end il'of springs II."

Each spring 4 is made from strip material bent into the shape shown'in Figure?.` Theends I3 and I'I of each spring act upon the pivots I0 and` I4 respectively 'and receive their spring action from the oblong loopf I8. If desired the center of' the back of the spring maybe olset slightly int: wardly as at I9 to insure that the backs of'the springs will abut each other at points 20 substan tially in line with spring ends I3 and I'I'l KThe` springs are mounted between the two frame pivots I and the twoclamping member pivots I4 and within enclosure 3. The sidewalls I2 of the enclosure slidably i-lt springs 4 and thus allow themfree resilient actionV against the pivots Ill and I4;y

The clamping member is shaped to' provide a' depression 2I disposed centrally between andi spaced from side bars 8 of the frame as shown iny Figure 5. This depression provides a large-sun' face for finger contact when pushing the clamping member outward tothe open position shown in Figure 4. i

Flanges 22 at each side ofthe depression are spaced from the side bars 8 to allow several stocking folds or thcknessesrto form during attaching or wearing `of the grip without affecting the full closing, or the grip in theposition shown in Fig,-r ures 3 and 5. Y.

A clamping edge y23 emerges fromv depression 2 I and iianges 252 and is adapted to clamp the stocking 24 in U-shaped stocking lsupport 5. Y

The frame maybe` provided with any suitable elastic fastening means. I have shown suchv means in theforrn of a slot 25 through which an elastic 2S passes and then folds around a. bar-21. The elastic may be sewed as at 28 to secure the gripthereto.

To attach the grip to the stocking, the grip isY held in one hand in the open position shown in Figure 4. IThe U-shaped stocking support 5 is then slipped under the edge of the stocking, andV the enclosure 3 together with the clamping member 2v are pressed -with the iinger toward the frame to Swing themto the closed position shown in"i Figure 3, thus gripping the stocking between thel clamping edge 23 and the bottom 'l of the stocking support. Gripping pressure is produced by the toggle action of enclosure 3 and clamping member 2, forcing pivots l and I4 toward each other against the action of springs 4, as illustrated in dot and dash and full line positions in Figure 6.

The swinging movement of enclosure 3 and clamping member 2 is stopped in the fully closed position by the pivot edges 29 abutting side walls I2 of the enclosure. I6 and lil engage sidewalls i2 may be varied to suit different requirements. In the present inn stance the angle found most suitable for a clear description is 45 degrees. It permits a 90 degree swing of enclosure 3 on frame pivots It and a degree swing of clamping member 2 on its pivots I4. The 90 degree swing is the amount required from open to closed position.

Springs 4, in addition .to maintaining gripping pressure on clamping member 2, also tend to keep enclosure 3 in closed position.

' This action is due to the relation oi ad jacent edges 2.9 of pivots l!) and i4 acting on springs 4 at opposite side walls i2 of the en closure. to swing the enclosure in a direction toward closed position. The frictional resistance of pivot edges 29 sliding on the spring ends i3 and il' also tend to prevent accidental opening of the grip.

To detach the grip from the stocking the finger of the hand is pressed on the underside of enclosure 3 or depression 2| to force it away from the frame to the open position. When enclosure 3 and clamping member E have assed the' 45 degree dot and dash position 3S of Figure 6, springs 4 will force them to the fully open position. In this position the pivot edges 2! will have moved to abut the opposite walls l2 of the enclosure, thus stopping and keeping enclosure 3 and clamping member 2 in open position. The frame with the stocking support 3 may then be slipped from under the stocking edge.

In case of accidental stepping on the grip while dressing or undressing, the force of the step would merely close the grip and no harm would be done. This will be apparent when it is seen that the clamping member pivots I4 abut the walls of the enclosure when the clamping member is swung toward the frame, thus carrying the enclosure with it to follow the dot and dash line positions of Figure 6 to the fully closed position.

Various thicknesses of stocking may be gripped between the stocking support and the clamping member due to the pivots IB and i4 having springs 4 between them. It should be understood that 1 other resilient means equivalent in function to springs 4 may be used between pivots i0 and iii.

While I have set forth my invention in a particular form, it will be understood that its shape may be changed without affecting the function thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider it liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A grip comprising. a frame having an uptu'rned stocking support at one end and pivota. means adjacent the other end; a clamping ber having one end adapted for clamping material inthe stocking support and pivotal means at the other end; an enclosure surrounding both mentioned pivotal means and providing a space be' The angle at which pivots This relation of pivot edges 29 tends i tween them in which they move toward cach other; and resilient means mounted within the enclosure in said space and engaging said pivotal means to apply pressure thereon; the enclosure and resilient means forming connes in which the pivotal means may swing and move toward each other against the action of said resilient means, the enclosure and clamping member act ing as a toggle to clamp material in the stocking support when swung to closed position.

2. A grip comprising a frame having an upturned stocking support at one end and pivotal means adjacent the other end; a clamping member having one end adapted for clamping material in the stocking support and pivotal means at the other end; an enclosure surrounding both mentioned pivotal means and providing a space bctween them in which they move toward each other ;V and springs mounted within the enclosure in said space and engaging said pivotal means to apply pressure thereon; the enclosure and springs forming confines in which the pivotal means may swing and move toward each other against the action of said springs, the enclosure and clamping member acting as a toggle to clamp material in the stocking support when swung to closed position.

3. A grip comprising a frame having an up'- turned stocking support at one end and pivotal means adjacent the other end; a clamping member having one end adapted for clamping terial in the stocking support and pivotal means at the other end; an enclosure surrounding both. mentioned pivotal means and providing a space between them in which they move toward each other; and springs of strip material mounted within the enclosure in said space and engaging said pivotal means to apply pressure thereon; the enclosure and springs forming confines in which the pivotal means may swing and move toward each other against the action of said springs, the enclosure and clamping member acting as a toggle to clamp material in the stocking support when swung to closed position.

4. A grip comprising a frame of sheet material having an upturned stocking support at one end and pivots adjacent the other end; a clamping member of sheet material having one end adapted for clamping material in the stocking support and pivots at the other end; an enclosure surrounding both mentioned pivots and providing a space between them; and resilient means mounted within the enclosure in said space and engaging the adjacent edges of said pivots to apply pressure thereon; the enclosure and resilient means forming bearings in which the pivots may swing and slide toward each other against the action of said resilient means, the enclosure and clamping member acting as a toggle to clamp material in the stocking support when swung to closed position.

5. A grip comprising a frame of sheet material having an upturned stocking support at one end and pivots adjacent the other end; a clamping member of sheet materiai having one end adapted for clamping material in the stocking support and pivots at the other end; an enclosure having side and end walls surrounding both mentioned pivots and providing 'a space between them; and strip springs slidably mounted between the side walls of the enclosure in said space and engag ing the edges of said pivots to apply pressure thereon, the side and-end walls of the enclosure and the springs form-ing bearings in which the pivots may swing andslidel toward each other against the action of the springs, the enclosure 1 and clamping member acting as a toggle to clamp material in the stocking support when swung to closed position.

6. A Vgrip comprising a frame having a stocking at the other end; a clamping member having vpivots with offset edges at one end and the other .end adapted to clamp material in the support;

' anenelosure having side and end walls surroundsupport at one end and inwardly extending pivot lugs adjacent the other end; a clamping member, having one end adapted for clamping material in the stocking support and inwardly extending pivot lugs at the other end; an enclosure having side walls` and end walls surrounding both mentioned pivot lugs; and a pair of strip springs slidablyI mounted between the side walls of the enclosure". anddisposed between the' pivot lugs, each spring being shaped into an oblong loop, the inner side of the loops abutting eachother and the outer sides having outwardly bent ends engaging the adjacent edges of the pivot lugs, the springs and the side and end walls of the enclosure forming bearings in which the adjacent edges of the pivot lugs swing to the opposite side wall and slide toward each other against the action of the *g move from one sidewall to the other and also toward each other against the action of the springs when the enclosure and clamping member are swung to closed position.

10. A grip comprising a frame having offset pivots adjacent one end and a support at the other end; a clamping member having offset pivots at one end and the other end adapted to clamp material in the support; an enclosure havsprings, the enclosure and clamping member acting as a-toggle to clamp material in the stocking support.

'7. A grip comprising a frame having a stocking support at one end and inwardly extending pivot lugs adjacent the other end; a clamping member having one end adapted for clamping material in the stocking support and inwardly extending pivot lugs at the other end; an enclosure having side walls and end walls surrounding both mentioned Vpivot lugs, one edge of the pivot lugs of the frame ing side and end walls surrounding both mentioned offset pivots, one side wall engaging one edge of both offset pivots and the other side wall and the outer sides having outwardly bent ends engaging the adjacent edges of the pivot lugs, the springs and the side and end walls of the enclosure forming bearings in which the adjacent edges of the pivot lugs swing to the opposite side wall and slide towardeach other against the action of the springs, the enclosure and clamping member acting as a toggle to clamp material in the stocking support.

8. A grip comprising a frame having inwardly `extending pivot lugs adjacent one end and a support at the other end; Va clamping member having inwardly extending pivot lugs at one end and the other end adapted to clamp material in the support; an enclosure surrounding both mentioned pivot lugs; and a pair of strip springs mounted in the enclosure and having oblong loops abutting each other at their inner sides, the outer sides of the spring loops having outwardly bent ends engaging the edges of the pivot lugs, the enclosure and springs forming bearings for the pivot lugs to swing and slide toward each other against the action of the springs, the enclosure and clamping member acting as a toggle to clamp material in the support when swung to closed position. 1

`.9. A grip comprising a frame havingI pivots with offset edges adjacent one end and a support engaging the other edge of said both offset pivots; and springs mounted between the side walls of the enclosure and engaging the adjacent edges of said offset pivots, the side and end walls of the enclosure and the springs forming confines in which the oiset pivot edges move from one side wall to the other against the action of the springs when the enclosure and clamping member are swung to closed position.

1l. A grip comprising a frame of sheet material having pivot lugs offset at an angle thereto adjacent one end and a support at the other end; a clamping member of sheet material having pivot lugs odset at an angle thereto at one end thereof and the other end adapted to clamp material in the support; an enclosure having side and end Walls surrounding both mentioned pivot lugs, one side wall engaging one edge of both mentioned pivot lugs and the other side wall engaging the opposite edge of said pivot lugs; and a pair of springs mounted between the side walls of the enclosure and having oblong loops abutting each other at their inner sides, the outer sides of the spring loops having outwardly bent ends engaging the adjacent edges of said pivot lugs, the side and end walls of the enclosure and the spring ends forming bearings in which the pivot lug edges move from one side wall to the other and also toward each other against the action of the springs when the enclosure and clamping member is swung to closed position.

GEORGE A. Gauss.

REFERENCES CI'IIED The following references are: of-Il record in the le of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

